BubbleStream

Heidi Zwart

It Began in the Garden

Synopsis

Are you tired of dieting? Are your exercise DVDs collecting dust? Do you feel stuck? You're not alone! And you're not to blame. Long before you were born, your story started with Earth's first inhabitants, Adam and Eve, and one small decision.
Integrating her experience as a trained counselor, certified nutrition coach, and personal trainer, Heidi dives into the Genesis narrative to explore our shared battle with physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Through stories, humor, and dozens of practical tips, these pages will help you learn how to:
- Make small daily changes for big impact
- Release the blame and shame that have kept you stuck
- Have a ''good enough'' relationship with food
- Embrace life beyond the scale
- Live at peace with your body
Discover hope, encouragement, and resources for making fresh choices that will lead to a healthier future. Adam and Eve made their choice. Now it's your turn. Welcome to your new beginning.

Author Biography

Heidi is an award winning Christian author and health coach. Her undergraduate work included degrees in Psychology and Bible, with an emphasis on integrating the two for whole body health. She has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, certifications in nutrition coaching and personal training, and life coach training. This unique blend has allowed her to help hundreds of men and women, as well as churches, move in a healthier direction as a coach, consultant, and writer.
She currently resides south of Boston, Massachusetts, but is a Minnesotan at heart. She's been a wife to Kevin for 25 years and mom to Drew, Alex, and Kyle.
You can learn more at www.heidizwart.com

Author Insight

Who's to Blame?

It's so easy to point our finger at someone (or something) else when life goes sideways. I know how easily I do it! It's hard to take responsibility for our own actions and choices. A healthy life will never be ours if we don't take ownership of our choices and start making new ones. It starts with us. No one else.

Book Excerpt

It Began in the Garden

Temptation is hard, and it’s personal. What’s yours? It might be the desire to drive by the gym instead of stopping after work as planned. It might be hitting the Snooze button instead of getting out of bed for that early morning workout. Maybe it’s going out with friends after work for one drink, only to find yourself indulging in one too many. Or it could be that movie popcorn you’d decided you wouldn’t have until you smelled it (again, no personal experience here).

We find all kinds of ways to justify our decisions. Work was brutal. You were called on to play taxi for your kids. You were up late and needed the extra sleep. You think you feel a cold coming on. It’s cold outside. You don’t like vegetables. The pantry is nearly bare. The dog ate your last chicken breast—and your homework … have I hit yours yet?

Excuses. Blame. Whatever you want to call it. It’s putting responsibility somewhere else. Remember that external locus of control? We point our fingers at something other than ourselves, something beyond our control, and it makes us feel better. We do it so well.